The FeliCa Lite-S (reference RC-S966) is the consumer tag chip from Sony: it brings FeliCa technology, born in Japan where it powers the heart of contactless transit and payments (the Suica cards being its most famous example), within reach of the NFC label. Compliant with the ISO/IEC 18092 standard (NFC-F) and the NFC Forum Type 3 Tag format, it offers 224 bytes of user memory in 16-byte blocks, MAC-based authentication to control both reading and writing, a subtraction-only count block and anti-tearing mechanisms. It can be read and written by the vast majority of recent NFC smartphones.
Information
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Family | FeliCa Lite |
| Reference | RC-S966 (FeliCa Lite-S) |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 18092 (NFC-F, FeliCa technology) |
| NFC Forum type | Type 3 Tag |
| Operating frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Data rate | 212 and 424 kbit/s |
| Unique identifier (IDm) | 8 bytes, factory programmed |
| Operating distance | A few centimeters depending on the antenna |
| User memory | 224 bytes (14 blocks of 16 bytes), plus a count block |
Memory
The memory of the FeliCa Lite-S adopts the signature of FeliCa technology: large 16-byte blocks, in a flat structure with no hierarchy:
| Area | Content | Access |
|---|---|---|
| User memory (14 blocks of 16 bytes) | 224 bytes hosting the NDEF message (the first block serves as the attribute block) | Per-block access attributes: free, read-only or MAC-controlled |
| Count block | A subtraction-only value | Decrement only, for counters and consumable rights |
| System area | 8-byte IDm, card key, authentication challenge, memory configuration | Managed through the chip's dedicated commands |
Used as an NFC Forum Type 3 tag, the 224 bytes represent an NDEF message of around 200 URL characters, with the first block hosting the attributes. The chip reads up to 64 bytes and writes 16 bytes per operation, with each block verified by a CRC check code.
Features & security
- The universal Type 3: compliant with the NFC Forum's Type 3 Tag format, the chip talks to standard NFC smartphones and readers, while remaining native in the huge FeliCa ecosystem of Japanese readers.
- MAC-based authentication: a message authentication code, computed from the card's key and a random challenge, controls both reading and writing and enables streamlined mutual authentication between the card and the reader: enough to keep unauthorized access out and verify the tag's authenticity.
- Per-block access attributes: each user block carries its own rights (free, permanently read-only, or MAC-controlled access), a rare granularity for a tag in this category.
- Count block: a subtraction-only value counts down trips, points or rights with no way back, the ticketing heritage of the FeliCa family.
- Protected transactions: the anti-tearing mechanism prevents incomplete updates if the card leaves the field, and every 16-byte block embeds its CRC check code.
- FeliCa speed: the 212 and 424 kbit/s data rates and the 64-byte single-operation read give this small tag the responsiveness that made the reputation of Japanese gates.
The FeliCa Lite-S is the light version of the technology: it keeps the essentials (MAC, attributes, count block) without the full encryption or the multi-service architecture of the FeliCa Standard, reserved for transport and payment systems.
Compatibility
The FeliCa Lite-S uses NFC-F technology (ISO/IEC 18092), supported by the vast majority of recent NFC smartphones. On Android, reading and writing work natively with NFC Tools, without any particular restriction. On iPhone, automatic background reading is available from the iPhone XS and XR onwards; models from the iPhone 7 can read and write the chip via NFC Tools on iOS 15.6 or later, by starting the scan manually from the app.
With NFC Tools, the FeliCa Lite-S chip supports reading technical information, reading and writing NDEF records, erasing and locking. The card key, the MAC and the access attributes are managed through the chip's dedicated commands. The list of compatible models is available in the article on compatibility.
FeliCa Lite-S vs NTAG213
| Chip | User memory | Strengths | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| FeliCa Lite-S | 224 bytes | MAC on reading and writing, count block | The tag of the FeliCa ecosystem (Type 3) |
| NTAG213 | 144 bytes | UID and counter mirrors, 32-bit password | The worldwide reference (Type 2) |
Both can be read by every smartphone: the choice comes down to the ecosystem (FeliCa reigns in Japan, where readers, gates and usages speak NFC-F) and the features (MAC and count block on one side, dynamic mirrors and a password on the other). On the STMicroelectronics side, the ST25TN completes the picture of economical tags, and the NTAG215 and 216 remain the way out for more memory.
Frequently asked questions
How much data can be stored on a FeliCa Lite-S?
The chip offers 224 user bytes in 14 blocks of 16 bytes, i.e. an NDEF message of around 200 URL characters (the first block serving as the attribute block), plus a subtraction-only count block.
What is the MAC-based authentication for?
Controlling access and proving authenticity: the message authentication code, computed with the card's key and a random challenge, can be required to read or write protected blocks, and lets the reader verify it is talking to a legitimate card, without encrypting the exchanges as the FeliCa Standard does.
Is the FeliCa Lite-S compatible with iPhones?
Yes. Background reading works from the iPhone XS and XR onwards, and both reading and writing are possible via NFC Tools from the iPhone 7 on iOS 15.6 or later.
Can a FeliCa Lite-S be protected against rewriting?
Yes: each user block can be permanently set to read-only through the memory configuration, or require the MAC for any writing (a key-based protection). The count block, for its part, never goes back up.
Useful links
